‘Bond market tantrum risks’: Gilt traders brace for Labour leftward pivot as Starmer future uncertain
Imperial Brands in talks to save wholesaler Palmer & Harvey alongside Carlyle and McColl’s founder September 28, 2017 Tobacco giant Imperial Brands confirmed this morning that it is in talks to help save Palmer & Harvey, the UK’s biggest cigarette supplier. In a trading update, Imperial said it was seeking to create a “sustainable future” for P&H, which supplies Tesco and other major retailers. Shares in Imperial dropped 2.3 per cent this morning [...]
CMC Markets share price jumps on “significantly higher” half-year profitability September 28, 2017 Shares in spreadbetting firm CMC Markets jumped this morning after revealing half-year profits will be “significantly higher” than the previous year. While the spreadbetter admitted its client base had shrunk over the last six months, it said the rise in profitability proved CMC’s previously stated ambition of focusing on “high-value, experienced clients”. CMC shares rose [...]
HSBC has an innovative new app, Beta, taking on challenger fintech startups and rivals ahead of Open Banking and PSD2 September 28, 2017 HSBC is seeking to get ahead of rivals and fend off growing challengers with the launch of a new banking app. The banking giant will play up its position as a trusted high street bank and make the most of millions of customers with the roll out of the financial management app Beta. Read more: [...]
Tekcapital’s Lucyd launches $10m blockchain funding round to develop its augmented reality glasses September 28, 2017 Augmented reality glasses may still seem like a thing of the future, but a portfolio company of Aim-listed Tekcapital has today announced a $10m (£7.46m) funding round to manufacture its prototype spectacles. The gadgets, which look like average glasses, incorporate transparent displays and eye-tracking technology so the wearer sees digital pop ups related to what [...]
Consumer confidence jumps to six-month high as retail sales give businesses some cause for optimism September 28, 2017 Consumer confidence jumped to its strongest level in six months in September, according to a long-running survey published today, as separate data reveals growth in retail sales and business optimism. The index of confidence collated by Yougov and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) rose to a reading of 108.6 points for September, [...]
Housing charity Shelter warns Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s rent plan will increase homelessness September 27, 2017 Housing charity Shelter has warned that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s plans for rent controls could lead to increased homelessness in the UK. The charity has argued that hefty rent controls, a policy set out by Corbyn in his speech to Labour conference, would push landlords to sell their properties. This would help middle-income families looking [...]
Leisure sector calls on government to create dedicated hospitality minister September 27, 2017 The UK’s hospitality sector has called for the government to create a dedicated hospitality minister. Kate Nicholls, chief executive of Britain’s Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR), made the proposal at the trade body’s autumn conference today. The idea was backed by bosses of some of the UK’s largest food, drink and recreation companies. Read [...]
Architecture in games: How real-world designers are helping to build virtual worlds, from Jonathan Blow’s The Witness to What Remains of Edith Finch September 27, 2017 In the real world, architects are bound by many things: gravity, cost, materials, space. In the world of video games, however, these problems largely melt away. Within the constraints of time and processing power, you can build just about anything. Award-winning Japanese games developer Fumito Ueda is famous for creating vast environments filled with vertiginous, [...]
Ryanair cancellations: Airline suspends 34 winter routes including London Gatwick to Belfast and London Stansted to Edinburgh September 27, 2017 Ryanair has announced today that 34 routes will be suspended from November through to March 2018 as it seeks to bring an end to its flight cancellation troubles. The decision means routes including London Gatwick to Belfast, and London Stansted to Edinburgh and Glasgow have been suspended, with up to 18,000 flights and 400,000 more [...]
EasyJet teams up with US start-up Wright Electric to get electric plane plans underway September 27, 2017 EasyJet is looking to charge up its electric credentials in a tie-up with US company Wright Electric to develop passenger aircraft powered by electric batteries. The low-cost carrier wants the planes to fly passengers on its short-haul routes. The airline’s interest in the US start-up, which was founded last year, emerged in March, with Wright [...]